The City of Ottawa can now promote its francophone heritage across the continent, after joining the newly formed Network of Francophone and Francophile Cities of America.
The French culture has been present in Ottawa since the 17th century, a time of exploration and discoveries. The relations with the Francophone haven’t always been easy, especially in the 1900 when Ontario’s Francophones started to create numerous organizations to defend their rights.
Since the 1990s, a wind of change occurred, resulting in embracement of the French culture. It is on this thought of promotion and conservation of the Francophile that the network was founded.
The mayors of Quebec City, Moncton, New Brunswick and Lafayette, Louisiana, founded the network in October 2015 in partnership with Le centre de la francophonie des Amériques, based in Quebec City.
As of February, more than 90 cities had joined the network. Its mission is to promote the value, richness, and vitality of francophone heritage and value and showcase Francophone and Francophile cultural communities across North America.
It also aims to develop economic and strategic alliances while promoting member cities’ tourist attractions on the international scene.
With more than three million francophones in North America, the NFFCA toots itself a new way to trumpet French culture that is still very present on the continent.
“There is a strong craze for French language and we want to reach people who have this interest,” says Michelle Morin-Doyle, deputy mayor of Quebec City.
“There is also this trend for historical researches on ancestors, so the network can be a great place for these people to look at since an important number of cities are on it.”
Johanne Leroux, chair of the French language service advisory committee of Ottawa says it’s a great opportunity for Ottawa to increase its partnerships.
“I am very proud of Ottawa for joining this network,” she said. “I strongly believe that it is a key touristic attraction for the city and a great platform of visibility.”
Manon Beaulieu, vice-chair of the French language service advisory committee of Ottawa says, “On the eve of Canada’s 150th anniversary, the network is something that Ottawa will have to make the most of.”
The City of Ottawa did not have to pay anything to be part of network nor will it have to pay any annual fees. It requires no investments from member municipalities other than providing some information about their cities to whatever degree they wish.
Morin-Doyle says the network is a simply a platform where cities can create a web page to project their image using the information they wished to provide.
“What all cities have in common is their love for la francophonie.”
Other cities such as Burlington, Vermont, Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Winnipeg, Man. have also joined the network. Every city member of the network has a link with la francophonie, for example, a renowned French resident who has left his mark on the city’s history.
Beaulieu emphasises that “Ottawa’s decision to join this network shows a gratitude of its historical French heritage as well as a desire to integrate itself to the francophonie of the world.”
The capital’s decision to join the network shows the interest of the City on its francophone ties, just like Kathleen Wynee’s formal apologies to French-speaking community of Ottawa. On Feb. 22, she apologised for the past injustice that have been done due to the 1912’ regulation that prohibited elementary school teachers from speaking French.
Beaulieu says, “It can only be a good French Canadian song to the ears of the residents who live there.”